Is there a particular word for the thin skin on top of the finger between the cuticle and the first joint?

I've been getting some peeling there for no good reason, and it stings annoyingly. So far I've just been trimming the tags, but if it keeps up I think I'll try some liquid bandage.

So technically there's already been a trial (plea bargain, but same thing, right?), there's just been no sentencing. He's been running from the punishment, not the charge, so it's between him and the court, not him and the victim.

Yep. Polanski and the victim reached a civil settlement, but the criminal matter is still not resolved, and they are two separate animals. He pled guilty, but then fled, and as Cashmere said, claims there was something hinky about the case, I think on the part of the judge, who has since died.

Some b*tch just ran me over in the parking lot. Ok, with her shopping cart into my foot, but my heal is killing me now. She giggled a "sorry" and hustled away while I was still in that initial shock of pain. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. People suck.

We went to the movies today, and there was an ad for something I'd watch if I had cable, Steven Segal Deputy Sheriff. He's working the streets with a sheriff's department in Louisiana. One perp asks for his autograph. The best bit was when he was in the gym with the other deputies showing how to contain and control people with minimal violence--except that the person will get a broken arm if they resist the hold. The look on one deputy's face as Segal easily takes him down is priceless. Plus Segal demonstrates all the holes in a baton attack and takes the baton away from the deputy. There's a definite air of "OK, it's not just stunt work in his movies, the man does know something."

People suck.

They do, so often.

I took a slice of the peach I was putting into Dana's cake recipe, and holy shit -- why did I put that into anything? I should have just eaten it.

why did I put that into anything? I should have just eaten it.

When peaches are perfectly ripe, the dessert at Chez Panise is: a peach.

I mean seriously.

In other news of flavor, wow, British cheese and onion crisps really taste like onions. US sour cream and onion chips do NOT taste like onions.

Wow. I'm in love. With this: [link]

I test-road a Dutch bicycle today, and it was the most fun I've ever had on two wheels.

It was a Slate article [link] that got me interested in the bike. From the article:

My third test bike was the Batavus Breukelen ($1,150). Here at last was the iconic Dutch bicycle of my mind's eye. Batavus has been making these things for about a century and seems to have mastered the art. It was all there: the thick black tubes, the refined posture, the sturdy luggage rack (where might sit my imaginary Dutch girlfriend, her legs a-dangle).

Dutch bikes are designed to withstand the elements without deteriorating. Everything is internalized so as to be hidden from the weather: The chain is in a case, the brakes and the seven gears are tucked away inside the two wheel hubs, and all the cables are fully insulated. This bike can sit outside in the drizzle for decades with very few ill effects.

Which is good, because you'll have no choice but to leave it outside. Carrying it up a flight of stairs is nearly impossible. The Batavus weighs a staggering 47 pounds, and the elongated distance between its wheels makes it difficult to maneuver in a narrow stairwell or fit into a small elevator. That extra weight is less than ideal for climbing hills. And the pedal placement doesn't help such climbs, either. Batavus puts its pedals further forward than they are on most bikes, which makes it nearly impossible to stand up and stomp down when you need extra oomph.

That said, the same attributes that limit the Batavus also make it an utter joy. The heft creates inertia, smoothing out the ride. The elongated wheelbase handles potholes and curbs with ease. The forward placement of the pedals allows a more natural body position when you're riding at a casual pace. Put it all together, and you get the Rolls-Royce of bikes. You just won't find a more luxurious cycling experience. To ride this bike on flat ground is to hear a voice in your head let out a "Wheeeeeee!" that is without end.

That last paragraph perfectly describes the experience of riding it. I'm gonna have to buy it when I get my next paycheck....

eta:

It turns out my colleagues view urban cycling as a Darwinian contest, in which the cyclist who weaves most daringly between the delivery trucks is the glorious victor. Thus they chafe at the configuration of the Batavus, which does not encourage or enable aggressive pedaling. I, on the other hand, like to pretend I'm a European—rolling around the city at dawdling speed, occasionally dinging the bell to alert inattentive pedestrians to my presence. If you're like me, you'll adore the Batavus. If you approach cycling as a vicious blood sport, you likely won't.

Jesse, you're ahead of me on the cake-making. Though since you're three hours ahead of me, maybe that's only fair.

I've seen about 30 different people walking around the neighborhood with invisible dogs. I guess it's an Improv Anywhere thing.

Yep.

Improv Everywhere Takes 2,000 Invisible Dogs for a Walk in Brooklyn